Drilling slide for large holes with traversing bar concentric to the drill and automatic regulation of the drilling feed



Nov. 29, 1966 c s 3,288,229

DRILLING SLIDE FOR LARGE HOLES WITH TRAVERSING BAR CONCENTRIC TO THEDRILL AND AUTOMATIC REGULATION OF THE DRILLING FEED Filed Dec. 25, 19635 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EM ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1966 CHAPPUIS 3,238,229

DRILLING SLIDE FOR LARGE HOLES WITH TRAVERSING BAR CONCENTRIC TO THEDRILL AND AUTOMATIC REGULATION OF THE DRILLING FEED 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Dec. 25, 1963 9 W. W Hm. "Wm.

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F /4Z/ INVENTOR A 014125 f/Za v m 11s ORNEYS L. CHAPPUIS Nov. 29, 1966DRILLING SLIDE FOR LARGE HOLES WITH TRAVERSING BAR CONCENTRIC TO THEDRILL AND AUTOMATIC REGULATION OF THE DRILLING FEED 5 Sheets-Sheet FiledDec. 25, 1965 I mx INVENTOR Nov. 29, 1966 L. CHAPPUIS 3,288,229

. DRILLING SLIDE FOR LARGE HOLES WITH TRAVERSING BAR CONCENTRIC To THEDRILL AND AUTOMATIC REGULATION OF THE DRILLING FEED Filed Dec. 25, 19635 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent DRILLING SLIDE FOR LARGE HOLESWITH TRAVERSING BAR CONCENTRIC TO THE DRILL AND AUTOMATIC REGULATION OFTHE DRILLING FEED Louis Chappuis, Villeurbanne, France, assignor toSociete dEtude. et de Construction de Machines Pour Toutes Industries(SECOMA), Rhone, France, a French concern Filed Dec. 23, 1963, Ser. No.332,810

9 Claims. (Cl. 1739) This invention relates to an earth drillingmachine.

In drilling tunnels, galleries, etc., it is customary to drill a centralhole of large diameter and a plurality of smaller holes distributedaround the central hole. The smaller holes are charged withexplosives'but the central hole is not charged and serves as an escapeduring the explosion.

The resistance of the earth to drilling is variable and when a hard partof the earth is encountered the sudden increase ofv the drilling load onthe drill can damage the drill.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a drill whichwill not be damaged by encounters with hard spots in the drilling mediumduring the drilling operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a protectivemechanism for the drill which is relaible and positive in operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a protectivemechanism for a drill which will discontinue the feed of the drill bitwhen the resistance to drilling becomes too great.

It is a further object of theinvention to provide a drill wherein thefeed of the drill can be regulated.

It is a further object to provide a drive for the drill bit which isconcentric with the drill.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a drive for thedrill whereby the drill can be rotated and fed in the drilling directionwith a-minimum amount of friction thereby reducing the wear and powerrequirements.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a quick responsedrive for feeding the drill.

A complete understanding of the invention can be had by reference to thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the completed device;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the front end of the drill with partsbroken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the back end of the machine; v

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 i a section taken on line 66 of FIG. 3 and showing schematicallythe hydraulic system for operating the piston;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the planet-gear-speed reducer; and

FIG. 8 is a section taken on the'line 88 of FIG. 6.

A frame or support F is made of spaced parallel I beams 2, 4 and spacedparallel channel section 6, 8. At one end the beams 2, .4 are secured toa mounting plate F and the channel sections are secured to a supportplate S. Spacers 10, 12 are secured to the channels and support plate toprovide a rigid construction for the front end of the frame. At theother end the spaced I beams are secured to a cross beam 14 to which issecured a plate 16. Spaced plates 18 and 20 are secured to plate 16 andto channel sections 6, 8 and the channel sections are secured to a plateS to provide a rigid construction for the other end of the frame.

"ice

A drill bit B is supported at one end in a'bearing 9 carried by plates10, 12 and is supported at the other end for rotation and for feeding inthe drilling direction in a carriage C.

The bit is rotated by a motor M which drives a reduction gear in housing22 through a shaft 24 and a universal joint 26. The gearing is shown asa chain andsprocket drive in FIG. 7 but it could be a gear trainjust-as'well. The purpose of the reduction gear is to reduce the speedof the output shaft and increase the effective torque of the motor sincethe motor is of a high speed low torque type in order to conserve weightand may be an'electric, hydraulic, pneumatic or thermal motor.

The housing 22 is secured to plate 20 by threaded fasteners 28. Insidethe housing is mounted an input shaft 30 connected to the universaljoint and supported by antifriction bearings 32, 34 and a drive sprocket36 is secured to the shaft 30 by key means not shown. An idler sprocket40 is mounted onan eccentric shaft 42 to serve as a chain tightener inorder that the chain be properly tensioned. The driven sprocket 44 ismounted on output shaft 46 and is secured thereto by key means notshown.

A housing H is pivotally mounted in plate 18 by a plain bearing 50 andinplate 20 by an anti-friction bearing 52. The housing H carries anumber of epicyclic planet spur planet-gear trains, acting as speedreducers.

The housing H is restrained againstpivoting under load caused by thereaction of planet gears by a pair of spring devices 74, 76. Each suchdevice comprises a housing member 78 mounted on the frame as by a pin 79and a member 80 threaded into the housing and locked in fixed positionby a locking ring 81. A piston element shown as consisting of a nut 83and a lock nut 84 is threaded on a rod 85 which passes through member 80and is pivotally connected at 86 to an arm of the housing H. A spring ismounted between the nut 83 and member 80 and is shown asconsistingof aplurality of Belleville washers. Movement of the housing in thedirection of the arrow AR shown in FIG. 6 is resisted by the compressionof the washers. The load which will cause the housing to pivot isdetermined by the adjustment of the spring devices. The adjustment ismade by the initial positioning-of the nut 83 and the later positioningof member 80. Lock elements 81 and 84 retain the parts in adjustedposition.

Square shaft 70 extends through carriage C and into the bit B asufficient distance so that the bit can be rotated while in its mostextended position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1.

The bitis coupled to shaft 70 by a coupling S] comprising a plurality ofbronze shoes 88 secured to the bit portion 90 by screws 91 and collar 93and bearing against the flat sides of the shaft 70. This couplingoperates in the manner of a spline joint and allows shaft 70 to rotatethe bit while the bit is fed along the shaft in the drilling direction.The bronze shoes bearing on the steel shaft 70 provide a minimum amountof friction while the bit is slid along the shaft under drilling load.In the event of wear the shoes can be easily replaced.

The bit portion 90 is welded to the body of the bit and is rotatablysupported in a carriage C and is fixed against longitudinal movementwith respect to the carriage. Movement of the carriage longitudinally ofthe frame feeds the bit in the drilling direction while supporting itfor rotation. The details of the carriage form no part of this inventionand the carriage is therefore shown schematically.

The carriage is supported for longitudinal movement and against rotationby bearing blocks 92 which are provided with notches 96 to receive aflange of the channel sections 6, 8.

The carriage is also provided with ears 98 to which are secured, onopposite sides, the chains 100 and 102. The chains 100 are trained aboutidler sprockets 104, 106 and secured to anchor members 108 fixed to Ibeams 2, 4. The idler sprocket wheels 104 are rotatably mounted onplates 10,12 and idler sprocket wheels 106 and 114 are mounted on avehicle V. The chains 102 are trained about idler sprocket wheels 110,112, 114 and secured to anchor members 116 secured to the frame. Idlersprocket wheels 110, 112 are mounted on plates 118 secured to thechannel members and idler sprocket wheels 114 are mounted on thevehicle.

While a sprocket and chain drive has been shown and described it isobvious that any pulley system and flexible cord arrangement can beused.

The vehicle comprises a body member mounted on wheels 120 for guidedmovement in the facing channels of I beams 2, 4 and is connected topiston rod 122 of a piston 124 mounted in cylinder 126 secured to theframe.

Conduits 128 and 130 are connected to deliver pressure fluid to oppositeends of the cylinder by the control valve 132. The pressure fluid issupplied to the valve through conduit 133 by a pump 134 driven by amotor 136.

A conduit 138 connects conduit 128 with a pressure relief valve 140 anda conduit 142 connects the pressure relief valve With reservoir 144which supplies fluid to the pump through a conduit 146. Pressure reliefvalve 140 is actuated by a plunger 147 to relieve the pressure of thefluid going to the cylinder via conduit 128 by by-passing fluid andreturning it to the reservoir. The plunger 147 is operated by a rod 148carried by the pivotally mounted housing H and is shown in FIG. 7 asmounted in a bore 146. The pressure relief valve is adjustably securedto a pedestal 151 by threaded fasteners 153 and spaced ears 155. Thespaced ears are drawn together by the fasteners to frictionally grip thepedestal and retain the relief valve in adjusted position. Raising andlowering the valve on the pedestal adjusts the sensitivity of theapparatus to a high degree of accuracy. The pedestal is secured to plate16 by threaded fasteners 157.

In operation the motor M is energized to rotate the bit B through thechain or gear reducer located in the housing 22, the epicyclic reducerin the housnig H, the square shaft 70 and the coupling SJ. The valve 132is operated to deliver pressure fluid to the cylinder 126 throughconduit 128 to thereby move the vehicle V to the right as viewed in thedrawings. The sprocket chains 100 pull the carriage C in the feedingdirection (to the left as viewed in the drawings). In the event the bitencounters a hard spot in the drilling medium, the increase inresistance to rotating the drill is reflected in the entire gearassembly. The planet gears then react on the gear-ring integral with thehousing H and carry the same to pivot about bearings 50, 52 against theresistance of the spring devices 74, 76. Rod 148 operates plunger 146 toby-pass fluid by the pressure reducing valve 140. This reduces thepressure supplied to the cylinder and the forward feed of the bit isreduced or discontinued depending upon the increase of the resistance todrilling. When the resistance to rotation of the bit is reduced theforward feed is resumed at a speed commensurate with the resistance torotation of the bit as determined by the position of the housing H.

What is claimed is:

1. A drilling apparatus comprising a support, a drive shaft rotatablymounted on said support, a hollow drill bit mounted over said shaft forlongitudinal movement with respect thereto, first coupling meanscoupling said bit to said shaft during rotation of said shaft whilepermitting said longitudinal movement, drive means external of saidsupport, second coupling means coupling said drive means to said shaft,mounting means mounting at least a portion of said second coupling meansfor pivotal movement in said support in response to a predeterminedchange in resistance to drilling, feeding means mounted on said supportfor feeding said bit along said support, and sensing means mounted onsaid support and cooperating with said second coupling means and saidfeeding means to regulate the feeding of said 'bit in response topivotal movement of said second coupling means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shaft has a plurality of flatouter surfaces and wherein said first coupling means comprises a splinejoint having a plurality of bearing shoes engaging said flat surfaces.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises ahousing in which at least a portion of said second coupling means isoperatively mounted, and resilient means connecting said housing to saidsupport and normally resisting the pivoting of the housing produced bythe reaction of at least a portion of said second coupling means inresponse to resistance to drilling.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second coupling means comprisesa multiple gear and chain drive operatively connected to said drivemeans and a planetary gear system operatively connecting said muItiplegear and chain drive to said drive shaft.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said mounting means comprises ahousing in which said planetary gear system is operatively mounted, andresilient means connecting said housing to said support and normallyresisting the pivoting of the housing produced by the reaction of saidplanetary gear system in response to resistance to drilling. 4

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said feeding means comprises acarriage slid-ably mounted on said support and connected to said s'hatftthrough said first coupling means, a cylinder and piston therein mountedon said suport, fluid pressure means for moving the piston in thecylinder, and flexible means connecting said piston with said carriagewhereby movement of the p-iston in the cylinder moves the carriage andthe bit along the support.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sensing means comprises a fluidcontrol valve mounted on said support and adapted to control said fluidpressure, and actuating means to actuate said valve upon said pivotalmovement of said housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said actuating means comprises amovable plunger mounted on said valve and disposed in the path of saidhousing upon said pivotal movement thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the amount of pivotal movement ofsaid housing required to actuate said valve is adjustable.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,136,356 11/1938H-ild 1739 2,704,203 3/1955 Feucht 173147 2,905,441 9/ 1959 Poundstone173-8 2,970,458 2/ 1961 McLerran 6423.7 3,155,171 11/1964 Kurt et al.1734 3,155,172 11/1964 Kazmin et al. l6 3,179,186 4/1965 Bull 1731473,205,951 9/1965 Pyles 173147 FRED C. MATTERN, IR., Primary Examiner.BROUGHTON G. DURHA'M, Examiner.

L. P. KESSLER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DRILLING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORT, A DRIVE SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, A HOLLOW DRILL BIT MOUNTED OVER SAID SHAFT FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO, FIRST COUPLING MEANS COUPLING SAID BIT TO SAID SHAFT DURING ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT WHILE PERMITTING SAID LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT, DRIVE MEANS EXTERNAL OF SAID SUPPORT, SECOND COUPLING MEANS COUPLING SAID DRIVE MEANS TO SAID SHAFT, MOUNTING MEANS MOUNTING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID SECOND COUPLING MEANS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN SAID SUPPORT IN RESPONSE TO A PREDETERMINED CHANGE IN RESISTANCE TO DRILLING, FEEDING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR FEEDING SAID BIT ALONG SAID SUPPORT, AND SENSING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT AND COOPERATING WITH SAID SECOND COUPLING MEANS AND SAID FEEDING MEANS TO REGULATE THE FEEDING OF SAID BIT IN RESPONSE TO PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND COUPLING MEANS. 